British Columbia

Williams Lake area 19 Dec (PR).Remarkably early were 6 Turkey Vultures feeding on after-birth of newborn calves in Salmon Arm 10 Feb (TH).A juvenfie/first-w.mter eagle of undetermined species was found in the Goldstream estuary near Victoria 8 Dec (vt.DCo) and seen irregularly through at least 21 Dec (m.ob.).Numerous worldwide raptor experts who have viewed the videotape suggest that this may be a Steller's Sea-Eagle x Bald Eagle hybrid.Enough features of the bird are not right for either species, but its large size and bright yellow bfil were striking and also perplexing.It is hoped that the bird may return in subsequent years foret another mild winter passed, with the only icy winter interlude worth mentioning coming in the first two weeks of January.As in the past few winters, the transition to mild conditions was sudden; indeed, coastal regions received a record hosing for a week or so.Snowfall was light everywhere, and many valley bottom locations were snow-free by the end of the period, even in the far northeastern corner, where they experienced their warmest February in nearly 40 years!LOONS THROUGH SHOREBIRDS Casual in winter, an imm.American White Pelican was in White Rock 2 & 5 Jan (ph.VO et al.); an astounding flock of 15 was seen flying low over nearshore waters into a strong headwind at the Iona Jetty 17 Jan (CCo, SA, ?JT); and yet another group of 3 was seen along the Vancouver Waterfront 3 Feb (?EW).Following an impressive autumn invasion, a few Cattle Egrets lingered into winter, with 2 at Castlegat 5 Dec (GL) and a single at Creston 24 Dec (LVD).The latter location had a flock of 22 that had dwindled down, with several reported dead (fide GSD).Tundra Swans showed early signs of movement, with 10 appearing on the lake in front of Vernon Creek 28 Jan (DGC).Open water attracted 2 imm.Trumpeter Swans well n. to Dawson Creek 2 &14 Feb (MP), and a few Mallards managed to remain n., with a male in Dawson Creek 2 Jan (MP) and a female 2 & 14 Feb on Swan L. (MP).Red-breasted Mergansers were early, with .3 at t•he .mouth of Vernon Creek 6 Feb (CS).A single Ruddy Duck furnished a first winter record for the further study.Some have speculated that this bird may be the offspring of an Alaskan Steller's Sea-Eagle that has taken up with local Bald Eagles.Small numbers of Gyrfalcons were reported from scattered locations around the province, with the most noteworthy a dark-morph bird found dead near Torino, for a 4th local record, 13 Dec (fide AD).Wild Turkey is expanding in range and increasing in number.Well established in the East Kootenays, in Creston, and up the e. side of Kootenay L., birds are now moving farther westward, with reports from Pend Orefile Valley near Trail; the Slocan and Arrow Lakes valleys (•ide GSD); Kaslo, with 6 on their C.B.C.; and the West Kootenay winter bird count, which recorded 78.Casual in This Plegadis ibis, which appears to be an immature and is likely a White-faced Ibis, marks the first record of the genus for the Queen Charlotte Islands 13 (here)-14 October 2004.Ptma•gral• byBrian Charman.•!• ' •:od St.

Récupéré en direct depuis OpenAlex et désinversé. Les résumés ne sont pas conservés dans cette base de données : les index inversés représentent 8,6 Go des 9,3 Go de texte de la base, et le serveur dispose de 13 Go libres.